Does therapy for teens work?

Teenagers and their families often find very quick improvement when working with a licensed therapist because they have learned techniques that they didn’t know before. That feeling of hope can be very motivating and euphoric, and result in the most important element of therapy, which is consistency.

Why is my teen so unhappy? It feels like they are always upset!

This is a great question, and it is a question often asked by parents. Teenagers typically don’t know what to do or how to communicate in a clear and productive way when they encounter a new difficult situation that they have not experienced before. It can feel overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating -- thus leading to potential outbursts and the impression that your teen is always upset. Teen counseling and therapy can help your teen identify these problematic emotional outbursts, and learn how to self-soothe and better manage their anger and frustration with an improved mindset.

Aren’t teens just hormonal? Won’t things just improve over time?

I get this question all of the time, and for good reason. It is absolutely possible that some of your teen’s current frustrations and mood swings could be due to puberty and hormonal changes that are occurring at this time in their lives. Some aspects of this can and do improve on their own over time, simply due to biology. However, even in the cases where it’s mainly hormones that will “fix itself” over time, teen counseling and therapy can assist in the development of healthy behavior patterns and mindsets to improve current struggles and increase the chances of overall satisfaction in life (both currently and in the future). We want to ensure that your teen feels supported during this unique time in their lives, and decreasing feelings of overwhelm and frustration will be essential.

Young Adult Therapy San Diego, CA

Are you a young adult struggling with anxiety, depression, or with your overall self-esteem?

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Seeing a therapist for young adults can provide skills and techniques to help you overcome your current struggles.

Do you struggle with anxiety or depression? Do you have low self-esteem and difficulty communicating with others? Do you find that you have obtained an increased focus on your body, eating habits, or exercise? Perhaps you are having a hard time getting through each day, regulating your emotions, and are experiencing mood swings. Maybe you have gone through a traumatic event, which has caused you to isolate yourself from others and experience heightened feelings of anxiety. Some young adults even develop disordered eating or excessive exercise patterns to serve as a distraction and a way to cope with uncomfortable feelings. These struggles can trickle into other areas of your life and have a negative impact on your relationships, work, grades, and overall mood.

The young adult years of an individual’s life are arguably the most influential years

It is not surprising if you are struggling to regulate your emotions, connect with others, or with your overall self-esteem at this time. This period of one’s life can feel very confusing, as you are often transitioning from living at home with your family into the world of responsibility and adulthood. This transition happens so quickly, and without warning! It is not uncommon for young adults to experience mental health symptoms such as anxiety or depression during such a big life transition. If you are a young adult struggling, it is important for you to know that this can be a normal part of this period of life, and you are not alone.

Why Do Young Adults Seek Therapy?

Young adults typically experience one or more of these issues throughout their development. Many young adults may not know how to handle some of these life events and transitions, and will lack adequate coping skills. They may continue to try and use strategies that they had learned in their younger years to cope, and could feel frustrated or lost when they see that these “solutions” no longer work in the same way. Young adults may also try other behaviors that they have learned from peers, parents, teachers, etc. to try and work through a difficult situation. While this may work in some situations, it is important for you to learn individualized ways to cope with life’s challenges that can help you specifically.

Seeing a Young Adult Therapist Can Help

Young adult therapy and counseling can be incredibly helpful for you if you are struggling with your mental health or with any of the issues above. Therapy sessions teach you coping skills and strategies for emotional regulation, increased self-esteem, and improved communication skills. This is a crucial time for self-discovery, as you spread your wings into adulthood.

Benefits of Effective Young Adult Counseling Can Include:

What to Expect in a Young Adult Therapy Session?

As a licensed therapist, I will provide a safe space for young adults to process whatever struggles they are currently going through, completely free of judgment. I will continue to remind them that help is available, and there is no shame in seeking therapy as a means to learn more about yourself and live a happier life. Sometimes young adults just need to feel heard and need to feel like they can completely be themselves — that’s what I’m here for. Young adults will also learn lasting coping skills that they can utilize for emotional regulation, stress management, improved self-esteem, and to implement healthy communication skills.

Why Book a Young Adult Therapy Session with Me?

I have worked with young adults throughout my career to help with numerous issues and in a variety of treatment settings including school settings, community-based mental health care, residential treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, and private practice. I have many hours of experience working with clients ages 18-26 (considered to be young adults). I have also successfully helped many young adults to decrease symptoms of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress, and eating disorders.

To put it simply, I just love working with young adults! I feel that this is such a special time in one’s life, and there is immense potential for positive change to be made. I remember working with a very helpful therapist as a young adult that truly changed the trajectory of my self-esteem and my overall life; that is what initially got me interested in becoming a therapist myself, so that I can give this gift back to others. My treatment also has a huge focus on improving self-esteem, which is so important in young adult therapy and counseling. We are setting the stage for the way that you are going to view yourself in this world now that you are out on your own, so it’s important to address self-esteem now. When appropriate, I also implement EMDR therapy into sessions, which has scientifically been proven to be effective in treating past trauma and other mental health issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders.

Are you ready to feel happier, more confident, and more connected to others?

Contact me today to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation and see if young adult therapy in San Diego is right for you!

My Standard Rate is $200 Per Session (50 Minutes)

As an out-of-network provider, I have partnered with Mentaya to help my clients save money on therapy. Use the out of network benefits calculator to see if you qualify for reimbursement for my services. Learn more about my rates and insurance.

You may have some questions about young adult counseling and therapy...

What type of therapy is best for young adults?

There are many different therapeutic techniques that can be helpful for young adults. I am trained in various methods, and I tailor my treatment approach to each individualized client. I explain the many different therapeutic approaches that I use with young adults more in depth below.

What are signs that I need therapy?

Although there is no one right answer to this question, there are some common instances that could show that young adult counseling may be necessary. If you struggle with any of the following, young adult counseling could be helpful:

Low self-esteem
Ongoing nightmares or feelings of anxiety, worry or fear
Feelings of hopelessness or sadness
Preoccupation with your physical appearance (including behaviors such as dieting, overexercise, or any other potential eating disorder
Preoccupation or fear regarding physical illness
Ongoing conflict with peers and/or support figures
Changes in patterns of eating or sleeping
Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
An inability to concentrate, make decisions, or think clearly
A sudden and unexplained decline in grades at school or work performance
Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed
Constant anger or a tendency to overreact to situations
And more…

If you feel that you could benefit from additional support regarding anything above, I recommend giving young adult therapy a try. If you are still unsure if you could benefit from therapy, you can always [contact me] for a free 15 minute consultation to see if I am the right therapist for you!

Should I see a therapist or a psychiatrist?

Therapists and psychiatrists have different roles and serve different purposes. People visit a psychiatrist when they are looking to get evaluated for potential psychiatric medications. People see a therapist when they are looking to process emotions, work through a difficult time, identify/improve patterns that create obstacles, or any other reason emotional work would be beneficial. So to answer your question, both can be helpful – but for different reasons. I always recommend starting with a therapist and assess from there whether a psychiatrist referral is necessary. I am connected with other psychiatrists in the community and can provide referrals if we determine that you may benefit from both therapy and psychiatry.

Therapeutic Approaches I Use in Young Adult Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that examines the relationship between our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It can help you to become more aware of negative thoughts so that you can view difficult situations in a new way, and thus respond to them more effectively. Working to decrease overwhelmed feelings will involve taking a look at the relationship between your thoughts and emotions, as well as your belief system about yourself and the world. CBT techniques will allow you to restructure these thoughts into a more positive way, so that you can view the world differently.

Strength-Based Therapy

Strength-based therapy is a type of positive psychotherapy that focuses on one’s internal strengths and resourcefulness, rather than weaknesses, shortcomings, or failures. I have found great success in using this therapeutic modality with clients, as I feel that it really does us no good to focus on where we feel that we may be lacking in life. I believe that we all have the internal strengths and resources to live the lives that we truly desire — sometimes, it just takes a little bit of help and guidance to realize this. Learning how to utilize your natural strengths can be transformative and can significantly increase overall levels of self-esteem.

Mindfulness Therapy Practices

Mindfulness practices include exercises and therapeutic techniques to help calm our nervous system down, which is essential in reducing symptoms of stress, frustration, anger, etc. Some mindfulness practices include targeted breathing exercises, guided imagery, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation. Mindfulness-based practices can be very helpful in decreasing these negative symptoms, as we are training your body’s nervous system to get into a “parasympathetic” (relaxed) state and out of a “sympathetic” (stressed out) state.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) incorporates both cognitive behavioral strategies and mindfulness strategies. DBT can help clients increase their ability to tolerate distressing emotions and high levels of stress, gain further strategies to reframe negative thought patterns, and implement helpful mindfulness practices into their daily lives. DBT skills are taught by the therapist and clients can utilize them in between sessions to help self-soothe and tolerate overwhelming emotions.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a therapeutic modality that focuses on solutions and what has worked in the past. Instead of examining negative patterns or identifying “problems”, SFBT promotes solution-oriented and positive thinking that is so beneficial for the decreased self-esteem and repeated frustrations that are so often experienced throughout young adulthood.

Young Adult Therapy in San Diego, CA

If you want to break free from your current struggles and would like to learn more about my young adult therapy services, please use the button above or call (619) 800-5393 for a free 15 minute phone consultation.

Self emBody Therapy
EMDR, Eating Disorders, Anxiety
5330 Carroll Canyon Rd Suite 120,
San Diego, CA 92121
(619) 800-5393

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